Global Energy Shifts: Tech's Nuclear Play, Hormuz Crisis Impacts Fuels, Iberdrola Expands Solar

Big Tech companies are increasingly entering the nuclear energy sector, driven by the power demands of artificial intelligence, but a growing number of these startups are opting out of a key voluntary safety oversight body, according to a report from OilPrice.com. The article, citing a study by Politico's E&E News, states that these companies are declining to join The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), which was created after the 1979 Three Mile Island accident to ensure safety compliance. Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission official Scott Morris noted these entities are businesses focused on their bottom line. The report also links this trend to the Trump Administration's push for a domestic nuclear revival, citing a May 2025 executive order directing the NRC to reconsider certain radiation exposure standards.

Simultaneously, the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is forcing a major reassessment of investment in alternative marine fuels, according to a separate OilPrice.com analysis. The disruption has shifted the investment rationale from regulatory compliance to energy security, as the reliability of conventional bunker fuel supply can no longer be assumed. The near-term impact has seen prices for very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) and low-sulfur marine gas oil (LSMGO) surge, with Rystad Energy forecasting the spike to peak around April to May 2026, with LSMGO reaching well above $1,200 per tonne. Normalization is not expected until mid-2027. This crisis coincides with regulatory uncertainty, as an October 2026 International Maritime Organization session faces opposition to its Net-Zero Framework from the U.S., Japan, and major oil producers.

In renewable energy deals, Spanish utility Iberdrola has signed a deal to acquire a 42-megawatt solar plant in Italy's Lazio region from Austria's CCE, Rigzone reported. The acquisition will raise Iberdrola's capacity in Italy to 400 MW.

For Bakken operators and royalty owners, these global trends underscore a complex energy landscape. The tech-driven push into private nuclear power, coupled with potential regulatory shifts, represents a long-term competitor for capital and policy attention in the energy sector. More immediately, the Hormuz crisis and its effect on global marine fuel prices and security could influence the cost structure for shipping refined products or equipment, while reinforcing the value of secure, domestic energy production from regions like the Williston Basin. The continued expansion of major utilities like Iberdrola into renewables in key markets highlights the persistent global investment flow into alternative energy sources.